Spring Semester 2018: Ordinations, Receptions, Elevations

During Spring Semester 2018, three new priests have been added to the ranks of our Student Body and Alumni fellowship, as well as three new deacons. Additionally, Alumnus and faculty member Fr. Daniel Findikyan was elected primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America.

Ordinations, receptions, and elevations from Fall Semester 2017 can be viewed here. Three members of the Class of 2018 were ordained before the start of Fall Semester 2017. Details from their ordinations can be found here.

We keep them in prayer as they continue in their ministries. Axios!

HOLY PRIESTHOOD

Priest Andrew Cannon (M.A. 2016)Jurisdiction: Diocese of the South, Orthodox Church in America (OCA)Holy Diaconate: Ordained by His Eminence, the Most Reverend Alexander, Archbishop of Dallas and the South and the Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA), in St. John of the Ladder Orthodox Church, Piedmont, SC, 9APR17Holy Priesthood: Ordained to the Holy Priesthood 10MAR18 at St. Basil Mission, Wilmington, NC by the hand of His Eminence, the Most Reverend Alexander, Archbishop of Dallas and the South and the Bulgarian Diocese of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA)Current Ministry: Assistant Pastor, St. Basil Mission in Wilmington, NCEducation and Professional Background: Studied Classics at Furman University, Greenville, SC; consultant at Writing & Media Lab, Furman University

Priest Thomas Zaid Totonchy (M.Div. 2016) Jurisdiction: Archdiocese of the Western United States, Syriac Orthodox Church of AntiochHoly Priesthood: Ordained April 21, 2018 at St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church, Orange, CA by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Clemis Eugene Kaplan, patriarchal vicar of the Archdiocese of the Western United StatesCurrent ministry: Assigned as rector at St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church, Orange, CAEducation and Professional Background: California-area youth minister from 2016 to 2018, Archdiocese of the Western United States, Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch; served as sub-deacon and youth minister at St. Ignatius of Antioch, Portland, OR, before attending St. Vladimir’s Seminary

Priest Anthony Westerman, Alumnus (M.Div. ’10)Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of North America (AOCANA)Holy Diaconate: Ordained by His Grace Anthony, bishop of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest (AOCANA),, St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church, Canton, OH, 21JAN18Holy Priesthood: Ordained on Bright Monday, 9APRIL18 at St. George Orthodox Christian Church, Fishers, IN, by His Grace Anthony, bishop of the Diocese of Toledo and the Midwest (AOCANA). Current ministry: Assistant Priest of St Mary of Egypt Orthodox Church in Greenwood, INEducational and professional background: Bachelor of Arts (BA) 2004, Political Science and Government, Western Kentucky University; Board Certified Chaplain (NAVAC); Military Police Officer, United States Marine Corps, 1997-2003; served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Iraq; Currently Chaplain Candidate Program Officer, United States Navy

HOLY DIACONATE

Deacon Gregory Erik Potter (3rd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program)Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America (AOCANA)Holy Diaconate: Ordained 29APRIL18 by His Grace John, bishop of the Diocese of Worcester and New England (AOCANA), at St. George in Norwood, MACurrent ministry: Student parish assignment at St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Brooklyn, NYEducational and professional background: B.A. in Near Eastern and Judaic Studies from Brandeis University. Shortly thereafter, he was received into the Orthodox Church, and chanted, taught Sunday school, and studied at church while working at Starbucks for seven years

Deacon Herman Fields, (2nd-year Seminarian, M.Div. program)Jurisdiction: Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church of North America (AOCANA)Holy Diaconate: Ordained by Metropolitan Joseph, Primate of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, at St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Little Falls, NJ, 21JAN18Current ministry: Student parish assignment at St. Mary's Antiochian Orthodox Church in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, under the mentorship of Rector, Fr. Michael Elias; member of St. Innocent's Society and St. Moses the Black Society Student Interest GroupsEducational and professional background: M.A., Oxford, Theology; St. Stephen's Certificate in Theology from the Antiochian House of Studies; worked in IT for ten years, as a web developer and project manager; moved to St. Vladimir's from Sweden, with wife, Anna, and children, Julia and Jacob

Very Rev. Dr. Daniel Findikyan, Alumnus (M.Div. 1989)Jurisdiction: Armenian Church of America, Eastern Diocese of AmericaHoly Priesthood: Ordained to the Holy Priesthood by His Eminence Archbishop Khajag, eleventh primate of the Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America in 1997 in New York, NYElevation to Doctor of the Church: Elevated to the rank of Vartabed (doctor of the church) in 2006 in Vagharshapat (Etchmiadzin), ArmeniaElevation to Primate: Elected twelfth diocesan primate by 116th Diocesan Assembly of Eastern Diocese of the Armenian Church of America 4MAY18 IN West Harrison, NY; Confirmed as primate 8May18 by His Holiness Karekin II, the Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians; Enthroned 8May18 at St. Vartan Armenian Cathedral, New York, NYCurrent Ministry: Primate of Eastern Diocese of America of the Armenian Church of AmericaEducation and Professional Background: Doctor of Liturgical Studies, Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, Italy; Master of Arts degree in Musicology, City University of New York, Master of Divinity, St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY; Master of Divinity, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY. Currently the director of the Krikor and Clara Zohrab Information Center of the Diocese of the Armenian Church (Eastern), New York, NY; professor of Liturgical Studies at St. Nersess Armenian Seminary, Armonk, NY; professor of Armenian Studies, St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, Yonkers, NY; president of the Society of Oriental Liturgy; visiting pastor of St. Sarkis Armenian Church, Charlotte, NC, from 1998 to 2005; author of more than 60 scholarly articles and books